Botox bandit caught in salon swindle

By Amelia Bentley

2 July 2009 - 01:59pm

A Brisbane woman with a habit of running off without paying for her Botox treatments has faced court for swindling free haircuts as well.

Glamorous telecommunications worker Julie Ann Villiers, 42, was sentenced back in 2005 for failing to pay for more than $2000 worth of Botox injections and other beauty treatments from a Brisbane clinic.

Following the treatments, she told clinic attendants she had to find an ATM, but never returned with the cash.

For that offence she received an intensive correctional order - a jail sentence served in the community - but four years later Villiers has appeared in court again.

This time she pleaded guilty to one count of fraud for failing to pay for two hair treatments in 2007.

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Crown prosecutor Chris Kershaw told the court Villiers' modus operandi had not changed since the Botox charges and she pulled the exact same swindle on two hair salons.

In October 2007, she received hair foils and and eyebrow wax at Stefan's at Redbank Plaza in Ipswich and after her credit card transaction was declined, she left a fake name and contact details but never returned with the $148 she owed the salon.

A month later, she received a hair cut, hair colour and blow dry at Price Attack, Toowong, which came to a total of $95.

After her credit card transaction was declined she said she would return with payment but never did, Mr Kershaw said.

In February 2008 police caught up with Villiers and she was charged with fraud.

Mr Kershaw said Villiers had a lengthy criminal history of committing frauds, theft and other dishonesty offences.

In 1999 she served time behind bars for stealing from an employer, he said.

Defence barrister Angus Edwards said his client had problems with depression and anxiety and in 2007 stopped taking medication which caused her to have a relapse.

He said said her employer was aware of her history as a thief but intended to support her and continue her employment, adding that Villers' role did not involve her handling her employer's money.

Judge Julie Ryrie said a report from Villiers' psychologist detailed Villers' perception of how she had been rejected in relationships prompted her depression.

"Ms Villiers, you're going to have to get over that," the judge told her.

"Yes, we all have rejection in our lives, yes, we all go through problems."

She sentenced Villiers to 12 months' jail with immediate release on parole, warning she would be immediately sent to jail if she breached parole.

In a final barb, Judge Ryrie told Villiers: "I don't know what the courts have to do to get through to you.

"You're not a young woman by any stretch of the imagination."

The amounts owing to the salons had since been repaid, the court was told.